44. Protect The Uchiha Things On You!

"Hey! Naruto, want to go eat together?"

As they neared Naruto, Yagami gave Sasuke a nudge, urging him to invite his friend. Perhaps due to the fates of Ashura and Indra intertwining, the two kids met today with a refreshingly direct approach.

"Eh? Eat? With me? I…"

Naruto was taken aback by Sasuke's invitation, a mix of joy and hesitation flashing across his face.

He was thrilled because, for the first time, someone had reached out to him and even invited him for a meal. For Naruto, who yearned for companionship, this was incredibly heartwarming.

But he was also anxious, knowing his limited funds. Usually, he survived on instant noodles and expired milk since most villagers overcharged him or refused to sell to him. The small allowance he received from the Third Hokage was barely enough.

"Don't worry, it's on me this time. Just eat and enjoy," Yagami said with a smile. However, he kept a respectful distance, letting Sasuke take the lead in inviting Naruto, mindful of the Third Hokage's watchful eye.

······

"Uncle Ichiraku! I'm here, and I brought friends this time!"

Upon entering, Naruto shouted excitedly. Yagami had initially thought of taking the two to Uchiha Industrial Street, knowing other places weren't welcoming to Naruto. 

But it was clear Ichiraku Ramen held a special place in Naruto's heart. Yagami realized this was likely due to Naruto's restricted interactions; the Third Hokage hadn't allowed him much contact with the Uchiha or visits to Uchiha Industrial Street.

For Naruto, Ichiraku Ramen was one of the few places where he felt accepted, making it his go-to spot for a treat.

"Oh! Naruto? What would you like to eat today?" 

The store was empty except for Teuchi and Ayame, who were busy preparing in the back. Teuchi leaned out with a friendly smile upon hearing Naruto's voice.

"Senior! The ramen here is amazing! I love the tonkatsu and char siu, but everything's good."

Naruto beamed at Yagami, enthusiastically "selling" his favourite ramen. He also made sure Sasuke was included, his eyes shining with genuine happiness.

He'd always felt ostracized, but Naruto was sensitive to sincerity. He could tell that Yagami and Sasuke harboured no prejudice against him, and he cherished this kindness.

"Got it, got it, Naruto. Can you stop shouting? It's annoying!" Sasuke replied, feigning irritation. Naruto, however, was unfazed. Sasuke's annoyance felt different from the villagers' scorn, so he didn't mind.

Yagami glanced at Teuchi, the unassuming middle-aged man in the kitchen, finding nothing remarkable. He'd once entertained the thought of "Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku" as a joke from his previous life.

"Since everything's good, we'll take one of each! Boss, sorry to trouble you, just put it all on my tab."

Yagami had eaten Ichiraku ramen before. It was decent, not extraordinary, but a good meal nonetheless.

"Long live! Senior, next time, I'll treat you to all the ramen, too!"

Naruto's excitement was infectious. This was his dream come true—to finally have the chance to savour all the varieties of Ichiraku ramen in one sitting!

"The seniors in Sasuke's family are too kind!"

Naruto glanced at Sasuke with a hint of envy. Seeing Sasuke's smug look, he felt a little annoyed—this guy didn't even seem to appreciate how good he had it...

*Poor kid,* thought Yagami, shaking his head. A single bowl of ramen brought Naruto so much joy; it was a wonder that, despite everything, he never turned dark in the original story.

After they finished their ramen, a figure appeared beside them—it was Kakashi, who'd been lurking in the shadows.

"Naruto, now that you and Sasuke are friends, make sure to get along well at school. No more mischief like before. Going to school means you're growing up, so pay attention to your behaviour, all right?"

Kakashi's appearance clued Yagami in that the Third Hokage might be getting uneasy. If he wanted to keep racking up feedback points, he couldn't push things too far.

"Senior… you… you know all about that?"

Naruto scratched his head nervously, worried that Yagami might think badly of him.

"This village isn't that big. It's hard not to hear about what you're up to. I'm not blaming you. You're young; being mischievous is fine. Just try your best at school and get along with Sasuke."

Yagami ruffled Naruto's hair, messing it up much as he'd done with Sasuke's. Sasuke had to maintain that tousled look—there had to be some consistency!

Kakashi, tense beside them, almost intervened but relaxed when Yagami pulled his hand away.

*Putting an Uchiha near the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki… can't help but worry!*

"I understand, Senior! I'll get along with Sasuke!"

Naruto replied earnestly, his determined gaze surprising Yagami. Today's events seemed to have left a deep impact on the "prince" of Konoha.

"Alright! It's getting late. Want me to walk you home?"

Yagami glanced at Kakashi, guessing he'd likely received instructions from the Third Hokage. He was delighted to see the system's notifications flooding in with points. Usually, he'd collect points sporadically, but today alone, the Third Hokage had supplied nearly 100,000.

*For these kinds of points, interacting with Konoha's higher-ups is the way to go!*

"No need, Senior. I live nearby, so I can head back on my own. You and Sasuke should get home, too!"

Naruto patted his belly, clearly satisfied. Although he wanted someone to walk with him, he didn't want Yagami to see him as needy, so he pretended not to mind.

After Naruto left, Yagami handed Sasuke over to another clan member, waiting until Kakashi approached him from behind.

"Is all this necessary? It's just kids hanging out, but you had to monitor them personally, Kakashi?"

"Yagami, you know as well as I do that the Nine-Tails incident is still a wedge between Uchiha and the village. Letting you interact with Naruto is too much of a risk."

Kakashi's tone was serious. The animosity between the Uchiha and the village was rooted not only in their role in the police force but also in the lingering suspicions from the Nine-Tails incident.

Too many had lost loved ones during that disaster, and the fact that the Nine-Tails was controlled by a Sharingan had cast suspicion on the Uchiha that would not fade without an explanation.

"Hmph. The truth will surface one day. I just hope you can handle it when it does. And remember to guard that eye of yours well. Uchiha lent it to you, and sooner or later, I'll take that Sharingan back myself."

The truth? It was Uchiha Obito who controlled the Nine-Tails back then, not the Uchiha clan in Konoha.

"This eye was left to me by my friend, and I will treasure it. But I ask that you don't approach Naruto again."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, his gaze conveying the Third Hokage's unspoken directive.

"I don't mind. I'm quite busy and don't have time to interact with kids. But if Naruto seeks me out, well, that's beyond my control."

Yagami replied with a wry smile. *Third Hokage, Third Hokage... you brought this on yourself!*

*Leaving Naruto isolated and expecting him to remain unaffected by the Uchiha's kindness—do you think he'll be naïve enough to stay the same?*

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